Fourteen!

Ej, Laimiņa, tu pa priekšu,

Es tavās pēdiņās,

Lai kājiņu neiespēru

Asariņu peļķītē.

 

Thirteen years

Heavy rains for the first time in weeks, followed by a full flower moon, complete with lunar eclipse! Seems right on target with a thirteenth wedding anniversary!?

May the adventures continue...

Eleven years

Today Roberts and I celebrate eleven years since our wedding. As I've done since our second anniversary, I'm posting a photo from our wedding day, this one as we made our way down the aisle. 

I was looking through posts from previous years to remind myself which photographs I had already posted, and got a big laugh from last year's post; we were on our 'honeymoon' in Hawai'i, so I was a bit late posting my annual memory, but at the end I wrote "Now, to figure out where to go on our babymoon...." If only I had known what 2020 would bring! Global pandemics! Homeschooling! Cancelled travel plans!!! Oh, and yes - baby Kukainis, due this month! I wouldn't even have imagined, but I'm kind of getting what I wished for, aren't I?

Wishing Roberts a happy wedding anniversary, and although we might not be celebrating with a fancy dinner and champagne, at least we won't have to share this day's celebrations with Baby Kukainis #4... well, at least not that I know of as of posting, who knows what next year's post might reveal!

Ten years

For the first time in the history of the blog, I am late with an anniversary post. However, I have a good excuse - Roberts and I were on our honeymoon! After the wedding there were so many friends and relatives in town that had traveled so far to celebrate with us, that we didn't want to leave; we spent a few days hanging out with everyone and enjoying it all. We put the honeymoon off, but as things tend to happen, a year later Lauris was born, then we moved to France, and in the blink of an eye ten years had passed. 

And so, we celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary and honeymoon all at once, last month, in Hawai'i! I'm only now sorting through photos from our week on the Big Island, so it might be a few weeks before you see a post. In the meantime, I would like to share this photo from the wedding - us with a few of our closest friends and family. 

How quickly the ten years have flown by, but how rich they have been. Daudz laimes kāzu jubilējā manam vīŗiņam! I think we make a great team. 

Now, to figure out where to go on our babymoon....

Nine years

Robert, tik daudzas krāšņas, saulainas dienas mums kopā!

Tā arī ir bijuši liela tiesa mūsu deviņi gadi; siltas pavasara dienas pastaigas puķu pilnos laukos. Tomēr arī ieķerās kāda ērce vai makšķerēšanas tārpa āķis kāzu kleitas plīvurā, bet laimīgā kārtā varu lūgt tavu palīdzību draudus atšķetināt – un varam kopā makšķerēt ar mazām nelaimītēm ķerot lielos basus.

Laimīgu devīto kāzu jubilēju!

Eight years

This picture was taken during mičošana, the Latvian “capping ceremony.” Mičošana was a very important part of the ancient Latvian wedding, which usually lasted three days. During mičošana, the bride and groom say goodbye to their single status and don symbolic hats to represent their new roles as husband and wife. At one part of the ceremony, the unmarried men gather around the bride and groom to sing their goodbyes, after which the married men break into the circle to welcome the newly married couple to their ranks. As you can see, it is a literal (as well as symbolic) capping; I am wearing an aube, the traditional headwear worn with the Latvian folk costume for married women, and Roberts has a hūte and pipe. Some of our guests are wearing hats also, which announce their membership in various Latvian fraternities, organizations that promote education in Latvian traditions and history. It is customary for fraternity members to have krāsu kāzas, inviting guests to wear their fraternal colors to the wedding. 

Mičošana traditionally occurs around midnight.

Vilis is 2!

The littlest of the boys is not so little anymore! Vilis turned two yesterday, although we’ve been celebrating for a whole week; the krustvecāki and the grandparents flew/drove down for the occasion!

the birthday boy blowing out his candles

On this particular birthday there wasn’t a set ‘party’ – it really spanned the whole weekend – but there was an afternoon spent decorating the house, setting the table and baking a cake and kliņģeris. I chose a woodland animals theme for Vilis, inspired by a visit to Ikea on our recent trip to Charlotte, and the Överlägsen party collection we found there. I didn’t buy the complete party kit, however I did splurge on invites, paper plates & cups, napkins and wrapping paper.

a new backpack and a new monkey!

We extended the woodland theme to the table with a nature-themed centerpiece consisting of pinecones, rocks, moss, Toob animals, a fern and lanterns with candles over a burlap runner. The contrast between natural and Ikea was interesting!

Anna and Andrejs put up streamers and balloons, and before too long balloons were being batted around by three enthusiastic party-goers, the rowdy carousing interspersed with pops when balloons were overinflated and overhandled.

the balloons definitely went with the theme...

We kept the menu simple. One night we had pasta: shells stuffed with ricotta, sausage from our Farm Tour visit to Happy Critters Ranch, parmesan, mozzarella & romano cheeses, and topped with marinara and parsley. For the party I had cooked up a big pot of chili out of Joy of Cooking, a filling dish that let me spend less time in the kitchen and more time with family.

now that he's two he'll be served like Lauris and Mikus

Of course there was traditional Latvian birthday bread, kliņģeris, prepared by the fantastic duo of Andrejs and vecmamma Inga. While they were busy doing that I was working on the cake…

a toblerone hedgehog cake

The recipe I used for the hedgehog cake is one of those that appears on epic-pinterest-fail blogs, but I forged ahead in a naïve belief that my attempt would be different, as well as the knowledge that Vilis is two – he wouldn’t remember a cake disaster. Switching out whipped cream for cool whip lite seemed like a good idea until the time came to smooth out the nose, and I’m pretty sure I could have used a whole bar of chocolate for the frosting, as the color of mine was closer to an albino hedgehog than the tan one in the recipe. However, the result was actually edible, there was just enough for the 10 of us, and the cake didn’t take as long to prepare as some of my previous undertakings. Plus, it’s the thought that counts, and I was thinking hedgehog.

Lauris getting a little help with his model racecar

As we shared memories of hilarious childhood moments and played cards long into the night, the hours quickly sped by until we were once again shedding tears at the departure of: the readers of books, givers of tačka and piggyback rides, fixers of technology, bakers of kliņģeris, experts at dīdīšanās, tellers of jokes, givers of the best gifts, blowers of balloons and all 5 million other titles earned over the weekend. If only it wasn’t such a long drive and complicated flight for everyone, we could do this more often…

the first reading of Sušķi no Šmucciema

A note for my vecmamma and other loyal readers - I hope to upload more of the pictures from the weekend over the next few days… I’ll be in touch!

Seven years!

A lucky seven years for Roberts and me today! Priecīgu kāzu jubileju, Robert!!

Sullivan's Island: Edgar Allen Poe and lifesavers

It’s just one big party at our house, from November to the end of January! Starting with Halloween, a birthday, Thanksgiving and the holidays, and ending with another couple of birthdays and a name-day, today we are celebrating the birthday of the homme au foyer himself! Although it’s not quite the adventure of last year in Costa Rica, I hope you will all join me in wishing Roberts a happy birthday and all the best in the coming year – and while you’re at it remind him I’m waiting on the present from that party-kick-off birthday in November…

So a few final notes on Sullivan’s Island, the destination on our Charleston trip that included a stop at Patriots Point and Fort Moultrie.  We ended our visit to the Fort with the boys earning Junior Ranger badges, a fantastic program that encourages exploration and curiosity during visits to our National Parks. Luckily Roberts snapped a picture; we’ll pretend Lauris isn’t barefoot while being sworn in…

A few blocks east of the Fort is the Sullivan’s Island Life Saving Station, the boathouse and quarters built in 1895 when coastal shipping was the primary means of transportation. The eight men and two rowboats housed there were tasked with protecting the lives of those involved in maritime trade. In 1915 the US Coast Guard took over the Life-Saving Service, and the complex remained in use until 1973. The beach was actually much closer to the boathouse than it is today, the shores of the coastal barrier island constantly shifting with the waves. In addition there is also the signal tower (1938), the buildings together forming an “L” shape around the bunker/sighting station. Today the structures are part of the US Coast Guard Historic District, incoporated into Fort Sumter National Monument. 

Then we hit the beach.  Many of the SC beaches are pretty similar – smooth, soft sand with currents and tides that keep parents on their toes. This one was no different, the best part about the low tide being the tide pools that kept the kids in the water without the waves and jellyfish of the ocean. 

Two blocks from the beach is Poe’s Tavern, named after Edgar Allen Poe and famous for its burgers and drinks. The author was stationed at Fort Moultrie under the pseudonym Edgar Allan Perry for thirteen months beginning November 18,1827, and it was this time on the island that was the inspiration for “The Gold Bug”, a story about a mystical beetle that led to buried treasure. The restaurant is worth the visit, if for the décor alone – what better way to spend some time in the bathroom than reading Edgar Allen Poe? A great spot to catch up with friends, a casual and laid-back beach atmosphere and mouthwatering food – the trio a winning combination.

  

When I went to photograph the interior of Poe’s I was wondering how my camera battery was already dead, but later upon reviewing my pictures it became clear; there were no fewer than 120 selfies taken by a certain 5yo with ketchup on his cheek. Robert, as my birthday present to you, here they are in no particular order…. On second thought, maybe I’ll stick to the best 4+1!

A hopping-good weekend!

I’m finally sitting down after a heck of a weekend – and all I want to do is go to sleep. However, we just got done looking through some of the pictures taken (and having a good laugh at some of them!) and I’m super excited about some of the posts coming up these next weeks: a little bit of travel in the Upstate, a local celebrity, a themed cake and another community garden. Most of that was last week, however this weekend kept us hopping too…

…with the Park Hop that is. We’re joining in the LiveWell Greenville park scavenger hunt again this year, and headed to Conestee Park for the opening ceremony. Braving the crowds and hot sun, we had fun playing games with the various participating organizations. We hit baseballs, threw Frisbees, ran golf ball races and measured our vertical jumps. It didn’t take much to convince this mom to jump – seems like I’ve still got (a little of) it, I hit the 17 inch mark. We snapped this picture with General Yucky Ducky, the Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District mascot who reminds the kids to keep our waterways clean…

…and here I am, all cleaned up. Roberts and I celebrated our 6^th wedding anniversary with a dinner at Breakwater Restaurant and Bar on the West End. A big thank you to vecmamma Inga for taking care of the three hoppers while we enjoyed the peace and quiet that comes with our first night out alone in almost a year.

Sunday was the last of Lauris’s birthday celebration, with a visit to the GreenvilleZoo and a party in Cleveland Park. We said goodbye to Kiko who is leaving for greener pastures at the Toronto Zoo, and admired the progress made on what will be the giant anteater/rhea enclosure. The two month old siamang was cute as can be, getting a ride from mom around the enclosure, and spring was in the air for the Aldabran tortoises, who were the most frisky I have ever seen them. It was a wonderful afternoon with good friends, and now that the party planning is over we can relax and enjoy our time with the grandparents, as vectētiņš is arriving tomorrow! 

Six years

In honor of the big G50 celebration coming up and our 6^th wedding anniversary! We married in Three Rivers, MI and celebrated with family and friends in Gaŗezers. It was a slightly chilly spring morning, but the dogwoods were blooming, the forest was bright green with buds and I said “yes” to the man I love most in the world.

Mīļais Robert, daudz laimes 6. kāzu jubilējā! 

Trīs lietas labas lietas!

Vēlos Jūs iepazīstināt –

Vilis Mārtiņš

Piedzima 2014. g. 30. augustā, 2:39 pēcpusdienā Grīnvilē, SC. Viņš svēra 10 mārciņas, 14 unces un ir 22,5 collas gaŗš.

Born August 30^th at 2:39pm in Greenville, SC, Vilis weighed 10lbs 14oz and is 22.5 inches tall.

Lauris un Mikus priecājās!

Five years

Five years, 2.7 kids later…

Priecīgu kāzu jubileju mon amour!

“Love is a shiny car

Love is a steel guitar

Love is a battle scar

Love is the morning star

Love is a twelve-bar blues

Love is your blue suede shoes

Love is a heart abused

Love is a mind confused

Love is the pleasures untold

And for some love is still a band of gold

My love has no reason has no rhyme

My love crossed the double line

Love is a minor chord

Love is a mental ward

Love is a drawn sword

Love is its own reward

Love is the pleasures untold

And for some, love is still a band of gold

My love has no reason has no rhyme

My love crossed the double line”

Love is (Renato Russo)

Saying goodbye

There are things that being an expatriate prepared me quite well for, such as: trying new foods, being flexible in situations where I don’t feel completely comfortable, and making do with what is on hand. However, considering the amount of times we had to say goodbye (to friends and family in the US before moving to France, to new found friends who were moving on to other expat assignments/back home, to friends and family who came to visit us while in France, to those same dear people at the end of return trips to the US, to all of our new friends upon our move from Clermont-Ferrand back to Greenville), I assumed saying goodbye now would be easier.

photo credit: Gunārs L.

 

The holidays have brought a whole round of goodbyes, each harder than the last. First, the house emptied of my husband’s family who had come to celebrate Christmas with us, and although I found some consolation in the fact that the next round of guests would soon be here, the boys had a much harder time understanding where all their cousins went. From a full house of storytellers, laps to sit in, buddies to chase, friends to hug, all of the sudden they had only me – overwhelmed with daily household chores that had been put on the back burner during “the holidays.”

"the tackle" photo credit: Gunārs L.

 

When we returned to Greenville after several years absence, a few friends went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and at home, welcoming us into playgroups and introducing us to other like-minded parents with children of similar ages. Our second goodbye came with the departure of one of those friends with her family for New Zealand, for the start of a new adventure. As they prepared to leave, packed and consolidated, we said goodbye; first there was the mom’s night out goodbye, the garage sale goodbye, then the Christmas brunch goodbye, the playdate goodbye… It is so very difficult to get closure but not extend goodbyes, and I found myself remembering our last weeks in Clermont with unease – saying goodbye was turning out to be harder on me than on my friend. It’s a selfish grief, stemming from that helpless and abandoned feeling from friends leaving you, with some jealousy mixed in, that it isn’t us headed to the storybook country. How to put aside all this selfishness and help our friends during the transition as they helped us? I’m afraid I failed miserably and barely managed to say goodbye without losing it completely… Sue, thanks for everything (including the bike which Lauris is getting tons of use out of!), and I wish you nothing but happiness and adventure on your journey.

Perfect sized mug for a cup of joe on a cold winter's day!

 

Then came saying goodbye to 2013, which honestly wasn’t that hard as it brought closure to an exciting year in addition to new visitors – my parents, all the way from Chicago. But they brought the final and hardest goodbye, as they got out of Dodge yesterday and headed back up north after taking an extra day or two to let the snow plows and tow trucks do their job. The house is empty and cold (literally and figuratively as South Carolina has been hit with the same cold front), and I’m having difficulties remaining optimistic not knowing when the boys/I will next see the grandparents/uncles/aunts/etc.

 

So, we jump into the mundane (the laundry, the grocery shopping, the chores of the New Year) and the not-so-mundane (the birthdays coming up require some attention…). We check in with the brother and sisters we didn’t see this holiday season, we wait to hear that the grandparents have made it home safe. And best of all, we plan. We dream about trips we might take, people we might see, places we would like to visit. We pencil in weekends on the calendar to travel and see family, and this is what eases the goodbyes; the house still feels empty and the boys are still a bit lost, but every time I pass my new bulletin board planning station I get excited about all the bonjours I’ll be saying in the coming year.

 

****

First wheels!

(Such a depressing post on a happy day! Today we’re celebrating my husband’s birthday, and I would like to wish a big blog bon anniversaire to mon amour! May the next year bring you much happiness!)

Four years

Mīļais Robert,

 

Novēlu tev laimīgu ceturto kāzu jubileju. Es tevi mīlu kā ceptu pīli!

 

x

 

tava sieviņa



Bonne anniversaire Lauri!

The Reedy River is swollen after 4 inches of rain last weekend and intermittent thunderstorms this week. We drove through a long line of storms Sunday, on our way home from Ohio from little Annalija’s christening, and my mother got more of the same on her drive down from Chicago yesterday. Luckily my dad’s flight today only saw sunshine, although according to him the mud in the rivers from all the recent rain was clearly visible from above. After a downpour ended on Tuesday we drove downtown to Falls Park to have a look, and found the waterfall looking something like this... (as opposed to this a few months ago)

 

The christening in Ohio was beautiful, we love how our family gatherings pull together relations from all over the US. The boys were spoiled silly, I was able to spend some time cooking and decorating (instead of the usual cooking and cleaning) and it was a great opportunity to dress the guys up a little.

 

And today Lauris turns three years old. I’m having some very mommy-moments thinking of the full circle we have come since then (to France and back), as well as how quickly the time has run by. He’s got some celebrating to do today, and as vecmamma and vectētiņš are here to help I’m sure it will be tremendous.

 

So stay tuned for a little kliņģeris and cake, a few pictures of the birthday boy with the Chicago grandparents and a note or two about the fun things we’ve planned!

 

--------------------------

 

PS

 

Dear Tante Zinta,

 

So I’ve heard there have been a few questions on how I choose my blog material… as in, how your 6 day visit to Greenville resulted in four posts (well, five if you count TOW we picked you up at the airport), yet our two day trip to NYC has already resulted in four posts (and I think there is one more, because we saw a few more things after our visit to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden). I see how this can result in a few questions, mostly why Tante Zinta equates to 1 blog/36 hours and Krustmāte Anna to 1 blog/9.6 hours.

 

The answer is, that the math is really far more complicated than blogs/hour, instead the formula includes also T, time spent babysitting while I was at the dentist and D, diapers changed. Let’s not forget E, errands run which is directly inverse to %T, touristy stuff done. If I need to write another few posts on the value of having Tante Z around for a week while organizing a garage sale I can do that :) And if I have to consider calling you Tante Zee in order to avoid confusion between aunts and jams, I can do that too…

Elephants on first birthdays

It was something straight out of “Setting Free the Bears,” a novel by my favorite author, John Irving. A slightly muggy, cool morning, the quiet interspersed with the sounds of a city waking up. When farther down the avenue the first of the elephants appear, and the boys faces are the picture of delight; six altogether, they tightly hold the tail of the animal in front with their trunks. Their trainers and other helpers have them surrounded more to keep the public at bay than to keep them in line, and we marvel at how quickly the procession reaches the intersection we chose to await this spectacle. They lumber past, single file, and then the ponies are passing. Then, as quickly as they appeared, the animals are gone, only an elephant-smell still lingering, and the whir of the street cleaner bringing up the rear.

My youngest celebrated his very first birthday in style yesterday, starting his day with a trip downtown to watch the circus animals walk from the train station to the Bi-Lo Center, where the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is performing through February 3^rd. We heard about the circus walk from a friend, but couldn’t really find anything concrete about the time or place until the Greenville road closure website listed the exact route. We decided not to take our chances of missing anything, and arrived close to 9am allowing ample time to find parking and stake out a spot, which proved to be unnecessary as it took a while for their train to unload and for them to make their way to downtown. Still, we were glad to have made the trip, as elephants in downtown Greenville are not something we see every day!

As for the birthday boy, what can I say? It was the third day of celebrating because of the parade of guests we’ve had, and just as with any good party there was cake, kliņģeris and presents. I’m so very proud of my one-year-old. He’s walking, chattering away, climbing, moving, shaking, eating and keeping both his father and me very much on our toes. His hair takes on an auburn hue in the sun, his hands and feet are only ¼ inch shorter than his brother’s, and his 18-24 month old clothes sometimes seem a little on the short side. He loves playing with the refrigerator’s water dispenser, the washing machine and the vacuum cleaner. And he smiles, all the time. That smile is enough, most of the time. And for those times when it isn’t enough, well, there are always the elephants.

* Looks like I'm not the only on1e seeing elephants! Check out these elephants in downtown NYC causing traffic jams at The Misfortune of Knowing!!!

Three years

It’s been 3 years since our wedding, but a dozen since we met. I can’t wait to see what the next dozen will bring…

Wishing my Roberts a happy third wedding anniversary. Seeing as the traditional gift is leather, I hope you like the new pants I've bought for you!

Photo credit: Gunārs Lucāns

Laurim divi gadi - Lauris is two!

For English, please see below

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Lieli notikumi šeit Francijā! Jauns prezidents ievēlēts; 51,63% nobalsoja par socialistu François Hollande, un 48,37% par Nicolas Sarkozy. Tad vēl, maija brīvdienas nozīmē kad liela daļa no Francijas atvaļinājumā (vismaz tā liekas); 1. maijs, Fête du Travail vai Labor day, 8. maijs bija Victoire 1945 atzīmēt otrā pasaules kaŗa beigas Eiropā, 17. maijā būs Ascension (par kuŗu rakstiju arī pagāšgad), un beidzot 28. Lundi de Pentecôte, pirmdiena pēc Pentecost. Frančiem arī patīk faire le pont, būvēt tiltus (ar brīvdienām), un tā arī 30. aprilī, 7. un 18. maijā ņem brīvdienas. Bet vislielākais notikums, Laurim šodien divi gadi. Manam mīļam Laurim novēlu daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā!!! Nevaru ticēt, ka divi gadi jau pagājuši (liekās kā divpadsmit!).

Nesen man jautāja, vai dzīve Francijā patiešām tik varena un rožaina cik tā izklausās lasot manu blogu. Bija jāpadomā, jo pagatnē esmu sūdzējusies par to, ka cilvēki rāda fasādi savos blogos un nestāsta par „īsto dzīvi”. Vai es neesmu arī vainīga, apslēpjot tās nepatīkamās lietas kuŗas mums kādreiz notiek? Tomēr rakstu šo dienas grāmatu lai nākotnē varētu atcerēties visus piedzīvojumus, visas vietas kuŗas apciemojām, visus cilvēkus kuŗus satikām. Varu droši teikt, ka negribēšu lasīt par tantrumiem kuŗi Laurim bija, par tām reizēm kad Mikus visu nakti raudāja, par tām dienām kad desmit reizes pārģērbos jo viens vai otrs bērns mani apšpļakstija ar sulu, uz manīm atspļāvās, uzvēma, utt, jo tos brīžus tagad jau labprāt aizmirstu. Es (un cerams Lauris un Mikus) vēlēšos lasīt par mūsu ceļojumu uz Amsterdamu un Briseli (par kuŗu rakstīšu nākam nedēļ), par draugiem kuŗi mums rīt brauc ciemos, par vecmātes ciemošanos nākamās nedēļas, un par Lauŗa 2. dzimšanas dienas viesībām.

Un tā arī ielūdzu jūs atpakaļ nākamās nedēļās dzirdēt kā izdevās viesības ar 12 maziem bērniem un vilciena kūku. Palasīt par mūsu ceļojumu redzēt Hollandes tulpes un Manneken Pis, kā arī izbraukāt Petit Suisse Luxembourgeoise. Un uz brīdi aizmirst tās ikdienas ķibeles un raizes kas mūs tik bieži nomāc, jo tomēr pasaulē tik daudz vietas kuŗas redzēt, draugi vēl nesatikti un gudrības ko iegūt.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Big month here in France! A new president was elected in the runoff elections Sunday; the socialist candidate François Hollande received 51.63% of the vote while incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy received only 48.37%. May also means the country is on holiday half the month; May 1^st was Fête du Travail (or Labor day), May 8^th was Victoire 1945 to commemorate the end of WWII in Europe, May 17^th is Ascension, and finally the 28^th is Lundi de Pentecôte, or the Monday after Pentecost. Of course since the French like to faire le pont, (meaning to build bridges, a phrase commonly used to describe the practice of taking the Monday/Friday off to extend a holiday that falls on a Tuesday or Thursday into a 4-day weekend), April 30^th and May 7^th & 18^th were also “holidays”. However the biggest event for us is Lauris’s second birthday, today! I can not believe two years have already passed (feels like twenty…).

Not long ago someone asked me how life in France really is – it can’t be only the exciting travel and wonderful experiences I write about. This got me thinking, as I’ve often complained that people will present a totally false façade, pretending the gritty/boring/painful never happens to them. For example, some new moms only talk about the wonders that parenthood brings, how they’ve never been happier and brag how the little screaming bundle of joy in their arms is already sleeping through the night. Am I guilty of this as well? I rarely discuss the difficulties and trials we face here in France, not just with parenting, but with life so far away from family and the familiar, dealing with the minutiae of life in a foreign language. I’ve decided that I am not, as this diary of our travels and adventures is meant to serve as a reminder of all the wonderful things and people we saw, experienced and met. I’m sure that I will not want to read about the tantrums, the sleepless nights and the days I change outfits ten times, although I don’t pretend these things never happen to me (see posts here and here). It is comforting to hear that I’m not the only one going through the trials of parenting or of being an expat, but in twenty years hopefully my children and I will want to instead read about our trip to Amsterdam and Brussels (which you may hear about next week), about the friends coming to visit tomorrow, about the weeks the boys’ grandmother will be joining us, and about the birthday party for our brand new toddler.

So I invite you to stop by these next few weeks to hear about how the party with 12 children and a train cake turned out. To read about our trip to see  the tulips and Manneken Pis, and our drive through Petit Suisse Luxembourgeoise. To forget about the rough days we all have and the hardships we must often face, because the world is full of places to explore and friends we haven’t met yet.

"Mom, stop! You're getting way too corny!"

Happy birthday Laurīt, daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā.

Lieldienas Andorra

This post is about my dad's 60th and Easter - I'll catch my English-language readers up in a later post!

Visgrūtākā lieta man dzīvojot Francijā ir būt tik tālu no ǵimenes. To seviški izjūtam svētkos un ǵimenes godos. 

Lieldienas šogad nosvinējām hoteļa istabā mūsu pavasara ceļojumā. Lauris ar lielu sajūsmu sameklēja Lieldienu zaķa atstātās olas, turpretīm es sapņoju par zaļo zāli vecmammas dārzā kur ar māsicām un brālēniem meklēju paslēptas olas. Mēs trīs sitām olas, Lauris uzvarēdams, un es tik prātoju kas uzvarēja Zvanu ielā. (Man stāsta, ka Andrejs esot ar tievo galu pieveicis Dainas olas resno galu.) Šūpoles te Andorra neatradām, jācer, ka brālis un māsas izšūpojās pietiekam mums visiem.

Būs vēl Lieldienas, bet šodien nokavējam arī kautko, kas neatkārtosies: mana tēša 60. dzimšanas dienu. Mana māsa ar vīru par pārsteigumu ielidoja no Ņujorkas, lai pavadītu nogali Čikagā viesībās un Lieldienu svinībās. Bija liels hoopla New England ielā, ar bingo spēli par tēša dzīvi, slīdīšu izrādi un mūsu vietā franču stilā saldo ēdienu. Nezinu vai tas bija tētim vai mammai lielāks prieks, saldais galds būdams rezultāts „makarona” garšošanai lai izvērtētu Čikāgas labāko macaroon.

Paldies krustmātei Gintai par skaistām grāmatām!

Atliek trīs lietas ko stāstīt/rādīt. Šo bildi no maziem Lieldienu puikām. Otrais, pateikt, ka šodien tikai domājam cik ļoti gribētu būt Čikagā ar ǧimeni. Un trešais, novēlam manam tētim, mūsu dēlu vectētiņam, daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā.